Air-navigating vessel.



R. D. BRUCE.

MR NAVIGATING VESSEL.

v KPPLICATION HLED SEPT. I6. 1913- RENEWED AUG. 9. 1915.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916,

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

3 INVENTOR WITNESSES R. D. BRUCE.

AIR NAVIGATING VESSEL.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, I913- RENEWED AUG. 9, 1915.

1 175595 Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES 1mm ran R D. BRUCE.

AIR NAVIGATING VESSEL APPUCATION FILED SEPT-16,1913- RENEWED AUG. 9.X915.

1 175,5 95 Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

3 SHEETS SHEET 3 \residing at egheny and a, n e invented cer- Inoyements in Allhich the following from the body at a re ceding edgesineetingat utergrearpoints an liavinguipper coneX andlunderflconcavfacesjflhorizontal fines; horizontal fcentral fin; with p mewo'rk,operating preten e, grou d snpportingelements,

dvingi theoinvention .YFig. 2 is an en wingfitaken on the 3 'isa detailplan if the machine, V, Fig. 4; isan iew on'flth'e line s a detail viewin f, the machine ar elevation. lilig.

I a2Viewofthe he inside elevation.

S isalvieiv "of the nachin'e in front ele 1 an einarged cross sectakenon the line XI XI elements or Inemhorizontal, and ta liihz ng pianos;

n improvement fishp I he front and taperd back; supporting as}; axialcenter, f having hereina t r Lisa uwiew of vesselem- A represents thearethesupportnin-nnvl eerme vnssnn ma wt mrsmm. Patented 1ua1-.14,191e.gleiijsrial No.:790,l)31. Rnewed August a, 1915. Serial No. 44,605.

Theseveral main parts, of the machine,

together with the associated operating ele mentsand other features ofthe invention, are COIHPIISGd in a structure designed to Bassoon, .01rrr'rsnnnen, PENNSYLVANIA.

- D, D, are the horizontal, and D, D, are the vertical rudders, and E isthe central fin utilize the flowing lines and proportions of Well-knownnatural bodies, as the bird and l! w The several portions of thestructure are divided into a series of unit sections comprising theentire body longitudinally, as indicatedby'the lines u, u, o, v, 'w, 'w;w, w y, wand z, 2, Fig. 1. Theseseveral,

LllVlSlOnS or units divide the entire machine longitudinally into fivemain sections, three of which constltute the body A, the remaining twocomprising the tail portion. 7 I g'lhe wings B as stated, extendlaterally of the body A, and are in depth about one-. half of the lengthof the body, or equal to one and OIIGrllitlf of the main longitudinalunits. The" front ,edge of the wings join the hod'yatits upper portionat the point 6, substantially one-half of the first unit inlength'backwardly from the front or nose Y of the body, and recedetherefrom out Wardly and backwardly in the form of a quarter circlehaving a radius described, from the center I). i

The front curved cutting edge I) of the wings, merges into the rear edge5 at the pointb, terminating rearwardly on a transverse planesubstantially coinciding with the real-terminal of the body on-the line92, w.

,w'The radius of the rear edge I) is defined from thecenter b andsaidcenter, like center Z), is located substantially in a line parallelwith the axial center a, of the' machine, and at each side thereof adistance approximating the maximum diameter of thehody, as indicated inFig. 1.

The radius of the front edge of the wing is substantially two andone-half of the divisional units, a, u, etc., and that of the rear'edgeabout three and one-half ofsuch units, giving good proportions to thewings as to curvature and spread laterally.

I The upper surfaces of, the wings are con- 1vex in the arc of acircleb, 67, respectively,"

of "short and long radii, the lower surfaces being defined in a similarmanner by radii forming arcs b", b", respectively, merging the upper andlower surfaces 'into the sharp front and rear edges 6 b respectively,

' power, the receding 'wingfo'rm reducing the of the wing shoWn-inTheieros s sectional form [as shown is maintained throughout its entire1 length.

lheyphys'ic'alj.gstrnctlii eof the iizing may. dbeffof any suitable'material a) insure strength, lightness and rigidity, as" hereintliewiiig's along tl1e-b0dy snial openings b gbe't'iyfeen the Wingandthebody; are prorided,i extending forwardly from! the rear edge towardthe'fionthbout' one third ofthe "indicated-f 'maximum -longiti 1dina 1depth of the Living as The fuselage or bodyl I round in formiflas shown;tapering toward the front v point a"w-hich is loea ted,.-mate,riallyabove I, the axial icenter' a a, of about one-ei'ghththe ima'ximum diameter atits'wjides't point; (By

this form I provide a froiitmdge-displacing body areafortheliyingstending to rise upon the air or; to cliinb 'upwardly inflight; The

tapering linesot the body, together with the reeeding construction. ofthe wings provides fOIf Tfl 'minimum air resistance" in forward travel:and "a corresponding maximum of a Speed and sustaining power. Thus with'thewings bladed assho'wn, spreading of the air'is' obtained whichefi'ects-an operation underthe ivingisflgiying a maximum lifting headresistance. by. taking advantage. of the v1scos1ty of the 11K; Thus,-whenq'my given,-

.unit of'air is acted upon, the forward part of the Wing adjacent totthebody, sueh unit of air, due to viscosity, tends to pull the .nextunitsoi twardly alonghwithflit) By 1 usinga-wing -form havinga'quarterflcircle'.

I fro'nt as; shown, recedingoutwardly and i 40 btiokwardly toward. thetip, the head re:

sistance of the-'wm'gs'is very greatly re- ;;d uced from the headresistance in. anyother. form -of-..c0nstrii ction of equal given" area.

This-is because? the-greater part of the air a underthe-w'ingshasbeen'given a forward motion befor'ilbeing" acted upon bythe bal- I anceof the tying. section following- The I 'f L55 JandDarea:ttached. 'The 'p1 anes G and C tially a v 6obaokwardly-from'itsEfmnt and at about the Pd-wing as thus'formedinfeross section gives greater minus pressure onv-,-top'-r and .a-"greater lifting power underneath with less head resistance, .for thereasons stated.

' The horizontal and yertical stabilizing "p'la'nes G, C, and C; C;extend laterally and vertically over the rear-portion ofthe body asshown tothe point'where the r-iidders 1) merge into'the body at'thepoint-o' substandistance of tyvo ofthe main units same-transverseplane as thejuneture with the rear wing edges,and have conca-ved outeredges, merging smoothly into the body surface. I

The planes G and C a're diminished: in'

depth at' -ahuut their middle portion correplanes) (I and (A C and arepivotfilly. hinge h .i'ear terminal point hf the body-j d are thenwidened backwardly to he points c uhstantial ly in the plane my,

main"llongitudinalIunits. Thelpui'p ose of these "planes is-" testabilize the body in both ;directions,xpreuenting vibration ortendency:

t0,sudden movement in any direction, whi e facilitatingmovementthroughlflthe flair 1011-.

gitudi'nally with a. minimum resistance.

'.l:l'i'e ,rear or tall'rudders D, D, D, hor zontall; and vertically,,jco'rrspond in -normalf osti-bn with'that of thestabilizingtor-asuitableti'ansverse sii porting frame d, practieally coinciding wittheplane y, The jruddersiare capable; ofimo'vement 1n eithe'ridirectionfronitheir normal :position,

a maximum of approximatelydhirty degreesfias inPig. Planes Cfand C arelikewise braced or stifienedLby transverse frame 16 while longitudinalstiffening braces a extend substantially,gfor'the' f ll-l length of theplanes from the body"rearwardly to frame d, being preferably eoncai'edin eon} formity with 'the edges of the planes them; selves. Theselongitudinal stiffening braces are-preferably made 'in the form of'tubesYfor, the purpose- 0f ,er'itendi H the manipulating-Wires or'-th'erudder 'yanes, the ,wires passingfthrough the tubes forwardly to"suitable .ac t'uatingfmeehanism within the body A,:and beihgb0nnected attheir rear "terminalsto' the rudder .vanes as at (2 Th'i; se ruddervanes*are of fish-tail form, -pivota-lly hinged "at-their, inner ends tothe supporting frame 61,; and are outwardly rounded, ,taperingbzick totherear terminal points,jand hav ng inner 'comnound "curved edges, asshown-Q5 "By' this construction a maximum widthis provided gat the frontedges, the" inner curved faces' i'prov ding ampleclearance,-fo'rmoveifi'ie'n't and manipula-tion of the seueral'ruddef-s, theirflong, v a

narrow; tail-like form giving more pe erful notion onIthe air than theshortand wide fo'rr'ns in general} use. -By reason of thisfor'mjasshoitn, the maximum pressure is: obtained on the outer portions ofthe'tail rudders which. .give s' ai maximum balancing i edtochange ,th'irec'tion'o-f the; machin I I Each rudder tail piece is'hinged mdepend.ently, s0 thagtwgcan be used as one; or they may all be used at the,same time in opposite directions, providing for a. torquing eifect whichmay used'to maintain the 'la-teral balance *0: the machine in lieu ofarranged fin E, of about one- 1,175,595 I 1 p a dedias shown. The purradiating across the arc-shaped'main supi to maintain lateral staportingspar members 2, 4, 5, and 3, to'which lliilli ly In} the machine and torestorelateral they are fixedlysecured, as shown in Figs. bzlince asfollowlsi Shouldo-ne side of the 9 and 11, similar lowersurfacerdefinin'g and a hine-droptoo low, the operator may turnreinforcing strips being inserted section- -70 nose ojf theiinachine ina direction away ally betweenthe main lateral members, andthe'lowsidebyjmeansofthetail ru'd defining therewith the lowerconcave'a'rea therebypcausing,the air to strnie the; or surface of thewing structure. By this the fin on thelowside and thereby construction Iprovide continuous curved heinachin e again into balance by surfacesabove and below, and supporting piilling npthe low side. a r f l g 1means somewhat closely adjacent for the at- Themachineisprovided atitsfront with tachment of a coverin of canvas or other e p peller i F,mounted on the end of a suitable material p extending centrallythroughthenosen; Between the upper strips Qiand lower fmachineat agearedwithftheidrivi strips 10, and extending between the several so torinside the body. The body is pro main lateral members, are vertical webmemith suitableQrunningg supports, as hers 1'1, constituting with thesemembers,- Gymoiinted uponficarryin'gframe'g to which 'they are fixedlyconnected,-I- v suitable. construction and substanbeam constructionsadapted to firmly'brace this fin lso provide} a downwardly andrearstrains. These web members may, if de-fl i fextending trailingsupportlLhav- Sl1'ed, be hollowedoutat intervals, as'i-ndi ing ufiicientflexibility; toi cushion the'marated at 12. e i c a h alighting and toprovide for trail- The entire wing structure, .as thus made ion overthergrou'ndnm. I c and connected with the body, forms with it -90 9, 10and 11, I' show in detailed a stiff supporting framework, obviatingftlielus cation the construction of theYwing -.necessity of any guy. wiresorsup leniental ers 13, designed forjthe purposejoffprosupportingmechanism, providing For? supporting}strength and stability strength andcarrying capacity, and- CO1 yre spending lightness, for thepuring thedanger offailure of collapsing-f S 1 providing theflskeleton wing strucethe wings due to suddenstrains. The wings, Asjshown, thesupportingflbody porwhile thus being rigidly, incorporated with fjthewings, extendinglllaterally and the body or Ffuselage, have a certainder ar yof the body Ayatfeach side, are gree ofela'sticity at theirouter portions,

h f skeleton framework,feyconsisting their tapering form providing formaximum ro tandQba-ck edge-forming frames 2 efiiciency in the air,greatest strength at lconfjor ming in position -to the front theirjuncture with the upper portion of the ear edgedefiningi portions b xand6 body, independence of supplemental guy 1 termediate' similarlyyshapedand dis wire or other-bracing, and providing a syms box truss or sparmembers 4 and 5. v metrical and ample support for the body in 1 0 saidmembers'extend lbodily through flight. l l Y e pp e ziiportionfofthevessel body A, "The apparatus as awhole.asthus conwhich may beforinedof aseriesbfcylinstructe'd, is well adapted to maintain sushoopswor rgsfc,;m beicoveredwithtained flight and equilibriuminmotion and forother suitable material; to correct variations due to any of the knownainstrengtheningmembers4 and 5, I causes. c i 9 I maybe of anysuitableimaterial, are The wings as shown are slightly droopedpreferably of rectangular or labor; form in downwardly over the upwardportion of the cross section,v as shown in Fig, 111, vpreferbody in theform of comparatively fiat arcs,

sodabl ng front and rear reinforcing walls the terminals of the wingsextending to a, 11 6, 6 7,"Lfrespectively,"theisparmembers planesubstantially co-extensive with the as th formed}makingabutting contactat horizontal planeof the axial center, as indi-. the enter of the body,as indicated at 8, cated in Fig. 8.

being vrigidly joined together. The The bodyA of the machine, whileinainti 56 Sam is rue of the front andrear edge menitaming .its generalcircular rounded form,

ber's d 3; The mainIspanmembers 4 tapering toward each end, may beprovided,.. and ave amax mum cross slection atithelr with suitableentrance and exit openings for inner ortions, jwherejthey are rigidlycon the awator, and I have also indicated at a-r t nect ogether and tothe main body, being window openings at each side of the body.inuousffromiendtoiend, and taper The construction and operation will becir extremitiesj forlightness" and readily understood from the foregoingdee 1 I scriptionl The'advantages resulting from -l-'llhe; upper ciirvedsurfaces ofiithe wings the stream line form of thebody andauings,

' aretdefinedfby' the upper "strips 9 laid over planes, rudders andIvZiiious othen' i Bethe entire cross areaof -theframe structure, tribute tothe speed-a" d elow its maximum diameter. Injthe the various stripsagainst the attendant'so n chine as a whole, providing for a minimum jresistance in the direction of travel,'immedi-" "ate oorreetlon of undesrable var1at1ons,and,

chine'as' indicatedvabove are, designed for'the i best results and aresubstantially; c9rrect,' it. will be understood that I donot desire tobe] I strictly'flimiteditothein as given, but that;

-;. maximum efiieiency iby, eflectinggprompt' and"; continuous reactionsin the" air,;'due to ,Jthe for er the-machine and its partsfi '1'lVliilefthe general proportions of the ma:

[the principle of the invention may be carried a 2. A fluidnavigatingvessel having'an Ygoelongated circular Ibod-y provided with ocontinuously curvedlsurface and laterally f from, and that all] suchchanges or variations 1;: A" and "navigating "vase having an elongatedoircular'pbody provided with: a "cont niltously curved surface andlaterally extended supporting wings drooping"""di)wnwardlyfromthe uppermiddle Y portion of the body. curving backw'ardly therefrom, andterrninating inythe middle plane of the i extended supporting Wingshavingfbaek 1 wardly curved" front andrear edgestapen ing'to'ward apoint-opposite the'reartermi-j "wardly curved front andfreariedgestaper-J thereof.

4'. A. I elongated eircular'bodyprovided continuously curved surface andlaterally 7 extended supporting wings having 'backnal of the. bo.dy,-and; .vertically and 'laterally'f extending stabilizing planes;extending rearwardlybf thebddy-mi:

1 a; A .sum anngvesselMeagan i elongated circular bodyprovided with a-co1 1tinupusly jam-v ed surface and laterally extended supporting wingshaving? backing' toward a" point 1 opposite the rearaterminal of thebody, and vertioally and' laterally extending stabilizing planesemerginginto he body surfaceandfextending rearwardly I fluid navigating vesselan with a;

ivarclly curved front. and vrear edgestapering toward a pointOPPOSltBihB rear terminal poi: vthe body,vertioally and laterallyextendin g -.st al*,-ilizing pianes' extending rear wardly' andcontormably-arranged rudv d'ers, pivotally fionnected at'the rear ofsaid} i continuously curved, surface oandmla-terallyg extendedsupporting wings having back wardlgg curved-front'and ten edges taperingof the body, vertically and laterally extendtoward a. point" oppositethe rear terminal lower co'n'cave surfa'desf middle portion and alsodownwardly and .bination of a cigar shaped. having a zlrfl ifb ho'ing"stabiliz ing planesinto: and ex;

tending rearwardlylof the, body, and con-x formably, arranged rudershaving inner] ur've'd tapering. edgesand pivotally connected at therear of said planes.

'6. Aefluidanavigating vessel" having an velongated,circular bodyprovided -with a continuousl'y ourvedsurfaoe' ,andulaterallyextended-supporting wings QhaV-ingback wardly ourve'd'front and rearedges tapering toward a point opposite thee-rear terminala :of'the' bodyand'in the eentral horizontal 1 plane of thebody. 4 a -7 A fluidnavigating fves'sel, having an elongated circular 'body "provided with.a1 T

continuously curved-surface and! laterally I extended supportingwing'sextending from the upper forward portion of the bodyhav- Qingback'wa'rdlyjandmdownwardly curved front and rear edges and upperconvex and t j 8. "A flu'd avigatiug J VeSSel consisting of a roundbodygtapered toward each end and' 1 having laterally extending wingscurving outwardly and baokwardly f-ro'm'fits upper terminating oppositethe rear-"terminal 'of- 'the' body,-J rearwardly extending horizontaland'vertioal planes, and rearwardly 'exten'ding rudders .ooinoiding Iwith said plane s, substantially; asset forth." a I 9. A fluidnavigating'vessel consistingfl oii a round body tapered toward eachend/and having laterally-extending wingsjf ourving 3.00 I middleport1on' rearwardly' extendi n horn outwardly 'and-hackw'ardly frorn itsupper zontal and rvertieal planes," irearwar 1y tendingrud'derscoincidinglwith said p tending therethr-ough. v

actuating connections for the sruddersex- 4 l 10. In a fluid navigatingvessel theeonibination of a cigar shaped bodyhaving a oackwa'rdlycurving tapered and upwardly-3' .a'rehed.supporting wings-extendinglaterally .of the upper portion of thebodyand bowed t downwardly attheir tips to the middle plane l thereof,- stabilizing planes extendingrea'ri1 5 wvardly of the body and merging thereintog tapering rudderspivotedat'th'e. rear ofsaid,

planes and forming extensions; thereofi and v v a propeller,substantially-as set-forth; a -s' 1'1. Ina fluid navigating vessel, the.corn pointed hose and" tail, laterallyextending baokwardly curvingtapered and upwardly Y arched supporting wings extending laterally f theupper portion o'f'the body and curving downwardly to -terminalsoppositethe v 'iddleplane of the 'body,"stabilizing planes extendingrearwardly of the body and merg- 1g thereinto', tapering rudders pivotedat n the rear of said lane and forming err-" 130:;

nesg; supporting .framework therefor,emb'odyin'g longitudinal hollowbrace members, and

pointed nose and tailglaterally extendingflloj tensions thereof, apropeller, and supporting and running gear,substantially as setforth.The; combination with the body, of a structure consisting W of'continuous Q tapered sparjmenibers and front and rear edge membersextending through and connectjedqwith"the, body, all of said members jbeing backwardly curved to a meeting point, 1

substantially asset forth.

wingB structure yconsisting of continuous :tapered sparmembersand frontand rear i y edge vmembersextending through and connected with the body,all of said members being backwardly curved to a meeting point andprovided with reinforcing cross strips attop and bottom, substantiallyas set forth.

'15. The combination with the body, of a wing' structure consisting ofcontinuous tapered spar members and front and rear edge membersextending through and connected with the body, all of said members beingbackwardly curved to a meeting point and provided with reinforcing crossstri-iis at top and bottom, and intervening web members, substantiallyas set forth. 7

In testimonywhereof I hereunto aflixmy v signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

ROBERT D.- BRUCE.

'lVitnesses C. M.CLARKE, FREDK. STAUB.

